In the first Iron Man movie, Tony Stark is listening to “Institutionalized” by Suicidal Tendencies while he’s tinkering on a beautiful old car in his garage. The title on this one is a line from that song that fits him to a T, figuring things out for himself when no one else was there to help.

This one is the most like the Pathways series, the lines of brilliant gold fire rising up against Iron Man’s classic hot rod red.

It’s also a beautiful, subtle reminder that even if you wobble a little taking off, you can teach yourself anything if you’re willing to put in the hard work and learn from your failures.

All I wanted was a Pepsi. Just one Pepsi!

I’ll Just Figure It Out Myself, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the subtle sparkle of gold and hot rod red, the flame-edge whoosh of upward mobility. Below, the piece is in a frame, hinting at a greater reality just outside the boundaries.

Like soothing waves of water, this blue-violet color contains surprising amounts of detail once you look past the initial impression. There’s a very subtle hint of sparkle here and there, the smallest shapes of water and spray, and of course the more obvious gradations of flow.

The tall, narrow rectangular shape echoes a hallway flowing with water rather than a more natural stream.

River Hallway, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the tiny details, flecks of paint and flecks of white like foam and stones in the water. Below, the painting is trapped in its frame, a piece of time forever frozen under glass.

A strange, swirling white mist furls through the tops of the strange trees in this grove. Or perhaps it’s flowers, or low-hanging clouds that’s half-obscured by the reaching, rattling black branches.

The Pathways series takes a strange turn with this one, almost not an abstract at all with is tree-like shapes and hints of deliberation among the randomness.

There’s a beautiful simplicity to the materials in this painting, opaque black paint, opaque white gel ink, and the swirling interactions between the two on top of the warm buff of the soft, textured paper.

Dark Grove, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the ghostly white shining through the deep black and floating atop the warm buff paper. Below, you can see this tiny painting in a frame, ready to add some spook to your space.

The image suggests bold autumn trees, lit by the last orange rays of sunlight slanting towards them. Or is it a bright potion bubbling over the sides of an iron cauldron? Perhaps you see the stripes on some deadly orange monster instead.

The simple-seeming monochrome hides a depth of color and detail that will give you hours of peaceful contemplation while you sit and sip cider and think of Halloweens to come.

Halloween Pathways, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the the way the charcoal blackness of the paper draws the orange into itself, lending a base of deep gloom to the holiday brightness of it. Below, the painting is tucked into a frame, just waiting to haunt your home.

Endless-seeming dunes give way near the top to the illusion of water. The warm buff paper breaks through the dull sparkle of yellow rust and copper. The caress of wind over sand exposes variations in shape, color and texture as a muted shine is revealed behind the amber waves.

The Pathways series is turned its side here, trading trees for earth and skies for an endless search for the horizon. The mirage adds a bright pop against the rich layers of sand and ochre and copper.

If you dream of sun and sand and sparkling water, this painting will bring a little piece of that into your everyday life.

Mirage, detail, by Amy Crook

Above, you can see the sunlight catching the copper, which only appears at certain angles in amongst the sandy ochres and golds. Below, I’ve trapped the mirage behind glass, so you can safely contemplate eternity without losing yourself in the dunes.

Want a little art in your life?

I want to help you out with that. All of my original art comes with free shipping, so don't sweat the small stuff. Just look and see what calls to you, what you think you might want to live with -- even if it doesn't match the couch.